Fuel Efficient 15-Inch Wheels and Tires

[Eggman]

Finally got my setup installed.

Looks good.

[Top_Fuel]

Finally got my setup installed.

Looks good. Don't forget you can air them up to 50 psi for a little extra coasting ability.

I tried resetting the tire diameter in ETACS only to find the measurement has presets.
You can only choose between the following:

1748mm
1784mm
2015mm
2026mm
2066mm
2073mm
2082mm
2124mm
2155mm
2185mm

What the...

Those appear to be circumference values?!? A 23" tall tire would have a radius of 11.5"...and plugging that into a circumference formula I get 1829mm...which isn't even a pre-set value?!? Is that the way you are reading that?

You might be the first person who has ever tried changing that setting.

[Mark]

Those appear to be circumference values?!? A 23" tall tire would have a radius of 11.5"...and plugging that into a circumference formula I get 1829mm...which isn't even a pre-set value?!? Is that the way you are reading that?

Factory tires would have a radius of 11.2 or 11.3 (14" vs. 15" factory tires).

If I used the right calculators, I got circumferences of 1787mm and 1803 mm approximately (which would be close to the 1784 mm setting). Was it set to the 1784 mm setting?

Just wondering? I wish the Mirage used a more common size in the U.S. like a 175/65r14 or 185/55r15 tire. Not only are these two tires more common, but they are a perfect match size-wise (23" diameter). These two tires would be a better match than the two factory tires used now.

[NorCalPhil]

Yep, circumference measurements. Mine was actually set at 1748 from the factory (I have the DE base trim so steel 14s).

[Subcompact Culture]

Admittedly, I'm a bit gunshy here. I sold off my 15x6.5 +38 wheels with 195/50/15 Yokohama S.Drives due to the rubbing. However, I'm wondering: Is it the tire size that really got me? I've found a great set of 15x6.5 +40 wheels shod with tires I'd ditch. If I got new tires and went conservative with 175/55/15, think I'd rub in the back? I am lowered on Eibachs, but I rubbed with one passenger on 195s, and rubbed all the time with two, even when I wasn't.

Thoughts?

[HitShane]

Admittedly, I'm a bit gunshy here. I sold off my 15x6.5 +38 wheels with 195/50/15 Yokohama S.Drives due to the rubbing. However, I'm wondering: Is it the tire size that really got me? I've found a great set of 15x6.5 +40 wheels shod with tires I'd ditch. If I got new tires and went conservative with 175/55/15, think I'd rub in the back? I am lowered on Eibachs, but I rubbed with one passenger on 195s, and rubbed all the time with two, even when I wasn't.

Thoughts?

I upgraded my wheels to 15 x 6.5 38 and with 185 55 15 Toyo Proxies T1R and later Kumho's 4x II, I was never able to rub doing full speed maneuvers.

If you are just lowered on Springs, why don't you just get some spacers for your Springs so you stop rubbing? Or go down to a 14 inch wheel size.

[Mark]

If you are just lowered on Springs, why don't you just get some spacers for your Springs so you stop rubbing? Or go down to a 14 inch wheel size.

I believe he has 14" factory wheels & wants to upgrade? A 14" tire can be larger than a 15" tire depending on what tire size is being used.

[Mark]

Admittedly, I'm a bit gunshy here. I sold off my 15x6.5 +38 wheels with 195/50/15 Yokohama S.Drives due to the rubbing. However, I'm wondering: Is it the tire size that really got me? I've found a great set of 15x6.5 +40 wheels shod with tires I'd ditch. If I got new tires and went conservative with 175/55/15, think I'd rub in the back? I am lowered on Eibachs, but I rubbed with one passenger on 195s, and rubbed all the time with two, even when I wasn't.

Thoughts?

Personally, I think a 5.0-5.5" wide rim is a good choice for the Mirage. Since I am not a wheel/tire expert, I tend to look at charts.

Mirage stock rims are 4.5” wide.
Rim width = Recommended tire widths below -
4.5” = 145-175
5.0” = 155-185
5.5” = 165-195
6.0” = 175-205
6.5” = 185-215

For a 6.5" wide rim, a tire size of 195 or 205 would be recommended, 185-215 would be considered in the acceptable range. A 175 tire would be considered narrow for a 6.5" rim. I am not saying it can't be done.

My Subaru Forester has stock 6.5" rims & stock 215 tires. They went with narrow rims for the tire size. Likewise, the Mirage is the same (narrow rims for the tire sizes). Is this a trend? I don't know? Less rim width should mean less weight, & that is probably good. You are considering the opposite. Wide rims for narrow tires. I don't see any advantage in that? It's more rim than you really need in a way.

I realize people push limits and make things work. If I were buying new rims for my Mirage, I would buy 5.0-5.5" rims. A good deal probably wouldn't sway me. I am not really addressing your issue of rubbing here, because I don't have a clue. I just question the rim/tire match up you are considering?

In my opinion, a 185/55r15 tire would probably be a better match to those rims. It would give you more tire options to pick from, too. How they would work on your car is another matter.

[Subcompact Culture]

I upgraded my wheels to 15 x 6.5 38 and with 185 55 15 Toyo Proxies T1R and later Kumho's 4x II, I was never able to rub doing full speed maneuvers.

If you are just lowered on Springs, why don't you just get some spacers for your Springs so you stop rubbing? Or go down to a 14 inch wheel size.

I am lowered on Eibach springs. Spacers would make it worse, as I was rubbing on the fenders.

I am back on the stock wheels/tires, but had 15x6.5 +38 on 195/50/15 Yokohama S.Drives. Too much rubbing for me.

[Subcompact Culture]

Personally, I think a 5.0-5.5" wide rim is a good choice for the Mirage. Since I am not a wheel/tire expert, I tend to look at charts.

Mirage stock rims are 4.5” wide.
Rim width = Recommended tire widths below -
4.5” = 145-175
5.0” = 155-185
5.5” = 165-195
6.0” = 175-205
6.5” = 185-215

For a 6.5" wide rim, a tire size of 195 or 205 would be recommended, 185-215 would be considered in the acceptable range. A 175 tire would be considered narrow for a 6.5" rim. I am not saying it can't be done.

My Subaru Forester has stock 6.5" rims & stock 215 tires. They went with narrow rims for the tire size. Likewise, the Mirage is the same (narrow rims for the tire sizes). Is this a trend? I don't know? Less rim width should mean less weight, & that is probably good. You are considering the opposite. Wide rims for narrow tires. I don't see any advantage in that? It's more rim than you really need in a way.

I realize people push limits and make things work. If I were buying new rims for my Mirage, I would buy 5.0-5.5" rims. A good deal probably wouldn't sway me. I am not really addressing your issue of rubbing here, because I don't have a clue. I just question the rim/tire match up you are considering?

In my opinion, a 185/55r15 tire would probably be a better match to those rims. It would give you more tire options to pick from, too. How they would work on your car is another matter.

If I could find a set of 15x5.0 or 15x5.5 easily (and that I liked the look of), that's the route I'd go. However, very few wheels are available in 5.0- to 5.5-inch widths on the U.S. market. However, I've been browsing the JDM selection over at Croooober.com a lot, and there are scads ofthem (many of which came from the vast small car market), but even though a set of wheels may only be $100–$250, it's a minimum of $210 to ship from Japan and the wheels are generally only in fair shape.

However, this is when I started to think: Would a 15x6.5 +40 actually be fine—I just need narrower tires?

I know you can put a 175/55/15 on a 15x6.5 wheel. Very mild stretch, but it will fit the actual tire.

Since I was rubbing with the 195s, I wouldn't opt for that size again or for the wider 205.

Then there is this question of fuel efficiency and even drivability. I'm fairly certain I could coast from Portland to at least Omaha on the 165s. When I installed the 195s, it was huge improvement in handling and stability, but a good 5+ mpg drop in economy. At first I was like—meh, who cares. Still gets 38 mpg all day. When I swapped back to the 165 Enesaves, I was shocked at how much easier the car rolled (thank you, low rolling resistance tires). So now kind of looking for a compromise in a 175/55/15 or perhaps a 185/55/15. I just don't want to deal with rubbing or rolling fenders.